news

MLB News

Trout ties, sets rookie records for July

By
Alden Gonzalez

ARLINGTON -- Mike Trout's record-setting surge continues.

On Tuesday night against the Rangers, he scored his 32nd run this month, tying Hal Trosky of the 1934 Indians for the most runs ever by a rookie in July. He also hit his 10th homer of July, setting a new American League rookie record for homers in that month.

"I just went out there and played my game, and the numbers are where they are," Trout said, after going 2-for-4 in the Angels' 6-2 win. "Just being more comfortable out there has helped me a lot."

Now, as the calendar flips to August, the 20-year-old is looking like an MVP favorite. He leads the Majors in runs (80) and stolen bases (31), while pacing the AL in batting average (.353) and adding 18 homers.

Forget rookies. The only other player in Major League history to hit at least .350 with 15 homers and 30 steals before Aug. 1 was Rickey Henderson -- the man Trout often gets compared to -- who batted .352 with 16 homers and 47 steals through the first four months.

Oh, and Trout spent his first month in the Minor Leagues.

Trout hit a two-run homer off Rangers lefty Derek Holland in the sixth, giving the Angels a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, he drew a walk, then came around to score on Torii Hunter's two-run double off reliever Tanner Scheppers, putting the Angels' lead at 6-0.

Trout now has multihit efforts in nine of 11 games against the Rangers this season. The last players with 80-plus runs and 55-plus RBIs in their first 81 games of a season were Todd Helton and Alex Rodriguez, who both did it in 2000.

The last rookie to do that was Joe DiMaggio in 1936.

"I just go out there and play," Trout said. "If I go 0-fer, I'm still myself. I always stay positive. One at-bat won't change a season. I just tell myself if I get out first at-bat, I've got four more at-bats to go. Get that confidence up."

On Tuesday night against the Rangers, he scored his 32nd run this month, tying Hal Trosky of the 1934 Indians for the most runs ever by a rookie in July. He also hit his 10th homer of July, setting a new American League rookie record for homers in that month.

"I just went out there and played my game, and the numbers are where they are," Trout said, after going 2-for-4 in the Angels' 6-2 win. "Just being more comfortable out there has helped me a lot."

Now, as the calendar flips to August, the 20-year-old is looking like an MVP favorite. He leads the Majors in runs (80) and stolen bases (31), while pacing the AL in batting average (.353) and adding 18 homers.

Forget rookies. The only other player in Major League history to hit at least .350 with 15 homers and 30 steals before Aug. 1 was Rickey Henderson -- the man Trout often gets compared to -- who batted .352 with 16 homers and 47 steals through the first four months.

Oh, and Trout spent his first month in the Minor Leagues.

Trout hit a two-run homer off Rangers lefty Derek Holland in the sixth, giving the Angels a 3-0 lead. In the seventh, he drew a walk, then came around to score on Torii Hunter's two-run double off reliever Tanner Scheppers, putting the Angels' lead at 6-0.

Trout now has multihit efforts in nine of 11 games against the Rangers this season. The last players with 80-plus runs and 55-plus RBIs in their first 81 games of a season were Todd Helton and Alex Rodriguez, who both did it in 2000.

The last rookie to do that was Joe DiMaggio in 1936.

"I just go out there and play," Trout said. "If I go 0-fer, I'm still myself. I always stay positive. One at-bat won't change a season. I just tell myself if I get out first at-bat, I've got four more at-bats to go. Get that confidence up."